Researchers from the Department of Medicine at the Universidade Federal de Sergipe in Brazil recently completed a study concluding that maternal asthma may increase the risk of childhood asthma in offspring. The study was published in the Jornal de Pediatria.
More than 4,700 women were evaluated for the study. Researchers were able to collect medical information from 86 children born to mothers diagnosed with asthma prior to pregnancy. Information on socioeconomic status and variables of exposure was collected. All children were given a spirometry test to evaluate lung function.
Abnormal spirometric test results were observed in more than 30% of children. Less than 10% of the children had previously been diagnosed with asthma. Children born into homes where dad was more educated and more bedrooms were present were at reduced risk for asthma.
Source: Valadares MA, Gurgel RQ, Melo EV, Guimarães AM, Guedes KM, Rocha NA, Almeida ML. Respiratory function in children of asthmatic mothers. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2013 Mar-Apr;89(2):158-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2013.03.007.
